NEW LIFE STUDENT CENTRE 20^TH ANNIVERSARY THANKSGIVING

New Life Student Centre (NLSC) in North Dagon, Myanmar was founded in 1999 by Thangno after he completed 3 ½ years of studies at Far Eastern Bible College (FEBC) and got married the same year. He had a burden to start an orphanage because he himself as an orphan had experienced the grace of Christian charity. Thangno’s orphanage is now called a “student centre” to reflect more accurately its primary mission. It is doing well by the grace of God with support from True Life Bible-Presbyterian Church.

This being NLSC’s 20^th anniversary thanksgiving, I was there to preach the Word and pray for them. Mrs Tow, Deborah Mae, Katherine, May Lynn, Jemima accompanied me. Roland Tay already in Yangon on personal business joined us for the celebrations.

On Saturday, March 16, a Bible class for the NLSC students was conducted in the morning. Katherine, May Lynn, Deborah, and Jemima took turns to teach the class. The anniversary thanksgiving service was held in the afternoon. It was attended by about 120. I spoke on why Jesus is our Good Shepherd and how we must be His sheep (John 10:7–16).

On the Lord’s Day, March 17, we were back at NLSC for worship. I preached on the topic “Money or God?” (Matt 6:19–33). Having believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, we are no longer pigs but sheep, and as sheep we should love God and not money. Loving money will bring about a lot of evil, but loving God will result in a lot of good (1 Tim 6:6–10). Further, God has promised to provide for all the needs of His children. He only requires that we put Him first in our lives. We sang “Cheep, Cheep, Cheep”, Rev Timothy Tow’s hymn based on Matthew 6:25, 26: “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?”

The fact that God is our faithful Provider is seen in NLSC—how He has provided them with food and clothing and shelter all these years without fail. When they started, they lived in rented premises, moving from place to place. Then the Lord gave them a piece of land, and on that land they built a bamboo house. The bamboo house has since worn out. Now, they are housed in three handsome brick buildings fully equipped with all the necessary amenities: dormitories, toilets, kitchen, dining hall, library, classrooms, worship hall etc. They were also blessed with a Toyota Probox for their transportation. Thirty-six students now live comfortably and happily together with their guardians Thangno and his wife Lun. Thangno and Lun have four children of their own (three sons and a daughter; the eldest son now a freshman in University).

During the Lord’s Day service, a total of 14 students (age 13–21) were baptised. They were interviewed by me one by one the day before. They showed they understand and believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Here are their names (beginning from the youngest): Cing Sian Hoih, Pau Sian Tuang, Niang Deih Nuam, Mang Sian Lun, Niang Muan Cing, Thang Muan Khual, Pau Khant Kai, Ciin San Deih, Lun Sian Huai, Vung Sian Muan Niang, Cing Ngaih Dim, Nian Suan Huai, Thang Sian Mung, Cing Sian Nuam. The salvation of these precious souls is what makes the ministry of NLSC so worthwhile. We ended the service with “Sheep, Sheep, Sheep”, another of Rev Tow’s hymns from Heavenly Melodies.

The Lord’s Day afternoon was spent with the First Bible-Presbyterian Church in Insein. The pastor is the Rev Biak Lawm Thang—a ThM graduate of FEBC. From this Church has come two other Churches—Bethel BPC in Dagon and Ngalti BPC in Chin State. The Rev Lal Lian Uk pastors Bethel BPC. Two recent FEBC graduates—Thawng Hup and Bawi Hoe—are assisting the pastors in their work. Since Rev Biak has a burden to start a Bible College, I advised him to pursue his doctorate. The 14 boxes of books we brought for him should be of some help to get a library started.

At the worship service of First BPC, I preached on “The Sovereign Love of God” (Rom 8:28–39), which is essentially the five points of Calvinism made simple.

On Monday March 18, we visited the Judson Centre to get a stock of Burmese Bibles for the FEBC Bookroom. Adoniram Judson was the most outstanding missionary to Myanmar in the early 1800s. His translation of the Bible into the Burmese language is so faithful and accurate, wholesome and refined that it remains the Bible for Christians in Myanmar to this day. It is noteworthy that Judson’s Bible was based on the divinely inspired and preserved Hebrew Masoretic Text and Greek Textus Receptus—the same texts underlying the KJV.

After our visit to the Judson Centre, we were treated to lunch by Louis Zung Hlei Thang, an FEBC alumnus (BTh 2002). Louis is now a politician and member of the party led by Aung San Suu Kyi—the National League for Democracy (NLD). He has been elected Member of Parliament representing Chin State in the Myanmar Union Assembly and serves in the Upper House—equivalent to the US Senate. He is doing his best to improve his country. We pray he will bear a good Christian witness for the Lord in the Burmese government.

It was evident that Mrs Ivy Tow—FEBC’s Matron—is well loved by her students. Andrew Kam (Thangno’s elder brother) who was away on local missions and could not join the NLSC celebrations came with his wife and children on the day we were to depart to pay his respects to Mrs Tow. He has five children (three boys and two girls). His eldest son is about to complete medical school and Sian Lian his eldest daughter is studying at FEBC in her final year. We were heartened by the honour accorded to Mrs Tow by our Burmese students. They are grateful for the goodness they had received from their alma mater. We had a blessed time of fellowship with them.

NLSC welcomes True Lifers to visit them for fellowship or to conduct Vacation Bible School (VBS). The young people may want to organise a VBS trip in future. However, the team should be kept small—six or seven would be just right. We should be a blessing and not a burden. JK

20th Anniversary Thanksgiving of New Life Student Centre, North Dagon, Myanmar, 16 March 2019